“Both of you know that family is very important to me.” My father poured me and Cooper some 90-year-old Scotch from his wet bar. My familiar Pal, stuck in his grizzly form, was on the floor a few feet away from us, gnawing on some huge filets of salmon jerky that a uniformed butler had brought in on a silver platter.

“It’s important to me, too,” I replied, feeling a pang of
sadness shadow the afterglow of Cooper’s marriage proposal. The dream
about my mom lingered in my mind. And thinking about her death had also
made me start thinking about my aunt Vicky’s suicide. If I hadn’t been
so wrapped up in college maybe I would have seen the terrible pain she
was in. Maybe I could have helped her, and she’d still be alive.

The tragedy of Vicky’s death wasn’t just a matter of her
losing her life. I’d spent enough time in hells to know what happens to
lost souls. Diabolic predators are quick to snap them up. Vicky was a
good, kind woman, and I shuddered to imagine the kind of torment my aunt
was enduring at the claws of some goddamn devil.

Virtus
Regnum agents executed my mother when I was just a little girl. Her
crime? She’d used necromancy to save me from terminal brain cancer. The
Regnum fancied themselves great arbiters of justice, so her soul was
probably in some grey eternal prison rather than a nightmare landscape
of endless torture. Probably.

“Your mother loved you very much,” my father said, handing me a Scotch.

“I know.” I sipped the drink. “She died because of me.”

“Not because of you,” he chided. “She did what any good mother would have done in her circumstances.”

“She’s still gone.” I absently thumbed my engagement ring,
rolling the ouroboros back and forth on my finger. I wasn’t hiding it,
but I hadn’t shown it to my father yet. In my indecision over when to
tell him, I’d decided to wait to see if he’d notice my new jewelry on
his own. Pal hadn’t spotted it, either, but his vision as a bear
probably wasn’t very good. And also the ring wasn’t made of delicious
fish, which was the main thing he was interested in at the moment.

My father paused. “It need not be so.”

It took a moment for his comment to sink in. I felt the
world tilt again, and my heart started beating faster. Was my father
suggesting what I thought he was?

“What do you mean?” Cooper asked.

“You were able to bring your young brothers back to the
living world when surely they should have been long dead.” My father
looked from Cooper to me. “You have unusual powers, the two of you. I
believe that with my assistance, you could resurrect your mother and
give her the life that the Virtus Regnum denied her.”

“What about Aunt Vicky?” I asked.

“Her, too. Certainly, she could be raised. It would be a dangerous undertaking, but—”

“I’ll do it,” I said. This was a mission I didn’t have to
think about. I owed both my aunt and my mother my life, and if there was
even a slight chance I could bring them back, I was going to do my
damnedest to make it happen.

Pal dropped his salmon. “Wait. Jessie. ‘Dangerous’ is an
understatement. You suffered serious side effects from the Marron
brothers’ resurrection, and the Virtus Regnum—”

“F### the Regnum,” I replied. “Seriously, f### those guys.”

I felt a righteous, exhilarating anger harden my resolve.
What better way to avenge my mom’s execution than to bring her back from
the dead? Bring her back safe and sound to my father where they
couldn’t touch her ever again? Hell yes.

But first, I needed to bring back Aunt Vicky. Her death was
far more recent, and so her resurrection might be the easier of the two.
Bringing Mom back would surely be an epic ordeal, and I wanted to make
sure I’d had enough practice to do it right.

“Whatever it takes, I’m doing this,” I told Pal. “Are you with me?"

He blinked at me. “Of course I’m with you. Always.”

I looked at Cooper, who wore an expression of profound surprise. “Are you in?"

He nodded. “I’m in.”

We hope readers are in, too! Jessie has a hard, dangerous quest before her. Devils’ Field
will tell the story of how she tries to find her Aunt Vicky’s trapped
soul and bring her back to life. She’ll get help from her fiance Cooper
Marron, her faithful familiar Pal, and her father, the enigmatic Magus
Shimmer. As she pursues her goal, she’ll risk serious side effects from
the sorcery she’ll have to use; if she fails, she might become a zombie,
or worse, a monster like her arch-nemesis Miko.

Even if everything goes according to plan—and when does anything ever
go according to plan in Jessie’s world?—she will have to face down
monsters and the Virtus Regnum to rescue her aunt from eternal torment.

Praise for The First Three Jessie Shimmer Novels

★ Spellbent: selected for the 2009 Locus Recommended Reading List

★ Spellbent: nominated for the 2010 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel

Praise for Spellbent

"Snyder combines the best of Jim Butcher and T.A. Pratt in this wildly imaginative and intensely gripping urban fantasy trilogy launch. ... Threads of romance, horror, action, and humor weave throughout, serving as the perfect backdrop against which memorable characters and a unique system of magic can shine." — Publishers Weekly starred review

"This fast-paced urban fantasy has a few twists that make it stand out from the pack. Yes, the plot moves quickly, but that doesn't stop Snyder from developing her characters and building her world. Fans of Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series should be pleased with Jessie, another butt-kicking female witch who doesn't let anyone tell her what to do." — Booklist

"(Snyder's) real strengths lie in telling a story brimming with energy and attitude ... you can't help but throw yourself on for the ride." (read more) — Graeme's Fantasy Book Review

Praise for Shotgun Sorceress

"With a suspenseful trip through a dark faery region, several uber-dark visits to Jessie's internal 'hellement,' and all kinds of monsters and demons causing all kinds of chaos, Snyder is quickly building a series that—if it keeps up this pace—will surely become a favorite of cross-genre fans."—Horror Fiction Review

"Snyder excels at placing the reader directly in the action of her surreal world, and keeps them firmly ensconced there despite a fast and furious pace ... Eccentric secondary players also contribute to the enjoyable wild ride." —Bitten By Books

"Snyder injects this edgy urban fantasy with an erotic charge and a horrific flavor, creating a space where sex and terror coexist and no comfort zone is within sight."—Publishers Weekly

"(A) darkly compelling story."—RT Book Reviews

"(W)here this book—and the entire series, actually—really shines is in its characters. Not just the main characters, not just Jessie, Cooper, Pal, the Warlock, and Miko, but minor characters and walk-on parts often have some really fun, vibrant personalities that make you wish there were other novels that would follow what else these people were up to." — Hero Sandwich

"Lucy Snyder attacks the page with the raw, manic intensity of an early Sam Raimi. This book is funny, profane, and insane in all the best ways. I can't wait to see what Jessie Shimmer will get into—and possibly blow up—next." — Seanan McGuire

Getting the Book

When you pledge $10 or more, you will receive the eBook in all three major formats: PDF, ePub, and Kindle. Every reward level above $10 includes the eBook!

When you pledge $20 or more, you will get the eBook and you will also receive the paperback with the gorgeous cover from Leos Ng Okita. Every reward level above $20 - except the digital-only bundle - includes the paperback!

BUT WAIT. We make it easy for you to pledge for the number and kind of books that you want.

We also offer add-ons for more copies to ANY REWARD LEVEL! For extra copies of the eBook, add $10 per copy to the reward level of your choice, whether it already includes the book or not. For copies of the paperback, add $20 per copy to any level.

Additional All-Backer Rewards

A digital audio reading of Steven Saus reading his story "Broken" from Kicking the Habit and Other Stories. This story originally appeared in On Spec #84. This MP3 will be exclusive to all backers of Devils' Field.

An electronic (PDF/Kindle/ePub) version of KW Taylor's novella "The House on Concordia Drive".

Sam's job on late-night radio is to debunk the existence of things that go bump in the night...but this haunting isn't as straightforward as it seems. Up against the reputation of an infamous documentary and fighting to keep his personal life together, Sam has to discover if the case is a hoax, a ghost, or something... else.

This story leads directly into KW Taylor's upcoming urban fantasy novel The Red Eye, also to be published by Alliteration Ink.

Our Goals

Our initial goal covers paying a professional rate to Lucy, the editor, and the cover artist. Here's how the funding percentage for our initial goal breaks down:

Stretch Goals

Our first stretch goal is set at $5500, which will go to paying Lucy so that she has the ability to write the fourth Jessie Shimmer book nearly double the length of what was originally planned. All the money from this stretch goal goes directly to Lucy and her editor for the longer book.

Who We Are

Alliteration Ink is run by Steven Saus (member SFWA/HWA), focusing on anthologies and single-author collections, with over a dozen titles across two imprints. Their most recent publications are What Fates Impose; Wild & Wishful, Dark & Dreaming; and An Inheritance of Stone, with Steampunk World and Streets of Shadows currently in production. Steven is also an author, his work appears in multiple anthologies and periodicals from other publishers.

Lucy A. Snyder is the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of the novels Spellbent, Shotgun Sorceress, Switchblade Goddess, and the collections Sparks and Shadows, Orchid Carousals, Chimeric Machines, and Installing Linux on a Dead Badger. Her writing has appeared in Strange Horizons, Weird Tales, Hellbound Hearts, Doctor Who Short Trips: Destination Prague, Chiaroscuro, GUD, Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet, and Best Horror of the Year.

If genres were wall-building nations, Lucy’s stories would be forging passports, jumping fences, swimming rivers and dodging bullets. You can learn more about her at www.lucysnyder.com.

Risks and challenges

*Devils' Field* is scheduled for release in late 2014.

Both the publisher and author have a proven track record of delivering amazing stories on time. However, life is what happens when you're busy making plans, and there's always the risk of an unexpected delay.

We are determined to keep you, the backers, updated with both progress and should unexpected delays intervene.

I know with 100% certainty that you'll be able to get a trade paperback sized book. I'm pretty sure - I'm waiting on some e-mails to get answered - that a mass-market sized paperback will be available as well. When I'm 100% sure, I'll post that as an update.

Nope - we want to make it easy for you. In the final survey, one of the questions will ask which size you would like. If you want two different sizes, make sure that you up your pledge enough to cover two books.

Rewards

Pledge $1 or more

Show your support for the project and up your karma! Your name will appear in the backer list in all versions of the book, and you'll have our deep gratitude, and all the "all backer" rewards.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

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Pledge $10 or more

44 backers

The new Jessie Shimmer novel delivered to your e-mail inbox in multiple DRM-free digital formats (ePub, Kindle, and PDF) for your convenience, our thanks, and your name in the backer list in all versions of the book.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

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Pledge $20 or more

19 backers

The trade paperback version of the new Jessie Shimmer novel, PLUS the digital version of the new novel delivered to your e-mail inbox in multiple DRM-free digital formats (ePub, Kindle, and PDF) for your convenience, our thanks, and your name in the backer list in all versions of the book.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

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Pledge $25 or more

24 backers

Digital-ONLY Bundle! Get digital versions of Lucy's books *Orchid Carousals*, *Sparks and Shadows*, *Installing Linux on a Dead Badger*, and *Chimeric Machines*, PLUS the digital version of the new novel delivered to your e-mail inbox in multiple DRM-free digital formats (ePub, Kindle, and PDF) for your convenience, our thanks, and your name in the backer list in all versions of the book. (Other titles by Lucy A. Snyder courtesy of Creative Guy Publishing)

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

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Pledge $30 or more

15 backers

Trade paperback AND Digital Shimmer Apocrypha! Get digital versions of *Orchid Carousals* - featuring a hot Jessie Shimmer tale plus stories about other characters from the original trilogy - and *Sparks and Shadows*, Lucy's short story collection featuring the back stories of characters in the first three Jessie Shimmer novels, PLUS the trade paperback version of the new Jessie Shimmer novel, PLUS the digital version of the new novel delivered to your e-mail inbox in multiple DRM-free digital formats (ePub, Kindle, and PDF) for your convenience, our thanks, and your name in the backer list in all versions of the book.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

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Pledge $35 or more

22 backers
Limited (28 left of 50)

The author and publisher will sign and number these fifty trade paperback version of the new Jessie Shimmer novel, PLUS the digital version of the new novel delivered to your e-mail inbox in multiple DRM-free digital formats (ePub, Kindle, and PDF) for your convenience, our thanks, and your name in the backer list in all versions of the book.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

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Pledge $40 or more

1 backer
All gone!

A signed paperback copy of *Kicking the Habit*, *Pencils Made This Scar*, and *Bought Love is a Salaried Position* courtesy of author and publisher Steven Saus, PLUS the trade paperback version of the new Jessie Shimmer novel, PLUS the digital version of the new novel delivered to your e-mail inbox in multiple DRM-free digital formats (ePub, Kindle, and PDF) for your convenience, our thanks, and your name in the backer list in all versions of the book.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

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Pledge $45 or more

23 backers

Get caught up with the series! The first three Jessie Shimmer novels in paperback, PLUS the trade paperback version of the new Jessie Shimmer novel, PLUS the digital version of the new novel delivered to your e-mail inbox in multiple DRM-free digital formats (ePub, Kindle, and PDF) for your convenience, our thanks, and your name in the backer list in all versions of the book.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

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Pledge $60 or more

3 backers
All gone!

A signed, numbered, limited-edition copy of *Sparks and Shadows*, Lucy's short story collection featuring the backstories of characters in the first three Jessie Shimmer novels, PLUS the trade paperback version of the new Jessie Shimmer novel, PLUS the digital version of the new novel delivered to your e-mail inbox in multiple DRM-free digital formats (ePub, Kindle, and PDF) for your convenience, our thanks, and your name in the backer list in all versions of the book.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

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Pledge $75 or more

5 backers
All gone!

Want to take your chances in Jessie's world? Lucy will name a character (or spell, or place, or something else in the book) after you, or use a mutually agreed-on name... but no guarantees that your name is safe from the Virtus Regnum's wrath! PLUS the trade paperback version of the new Jessie Shimmer novel, PLUS the digital version of the new novel delivered to your e-mail inbox in multiple DRM-free digital formats (ePub, Kindle, and PDF) for your convenience, our thanks, and your name in the backer list in all versions of the book.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

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Pledge $80 or more

2 backers
Limited (1 left of 3)

A short story critique (up to 5,000 words) from publisher Steven Saus! PLUS the trade paperback version of the new Jessie Shimmer novel, PLUS the digital version of the new novel delivered to your e-mail inbox in multiple DRM-free digital formats (ePub, Kindle, and PDF) for your convenience, our thanks, and your name in the backer list in all versions of the book.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

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Pledge $120 or more

1 backer
Limited (2 left of 3)

A short story critique (up to 9,000 words) from Bram Stoker Award winning author Gary A. Braunbeck, who will be writing the introduction to this book! PLUS the trade paperback version of the new Jessie Shimmer novel, PLUS the digital version of the new novel delivered to your e-mail inbox in multiple DRM-free digital formats (ePub, Kindle, and PDF) for your convenience, our thanks, and your name in the backer list in all versions of the book.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

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Pledge $200 or more

1 backer
Limited (1 left of 2)

Get two memberships to Context 27 (http://www.contextsf.org/) and have lunch with the author and publisher! PLUS the trade paperback version of the new Jessie Shimmer novel, PLUS the digital version of the new novel delivered to your e-mail inbox in multiple DRM-free digital formats (ePub, Kindle, and PDF) for your convenience, our thanks, and your name in the backer list in all versions of the book. (You will be responsible for transportation and lodging.)

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

Funding period

Mar 10, 2014 - Apr 13, 2014
(33 days)

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